|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
krypto2000
Unknown


Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 11,579
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
|
Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool.
#18756570 - 08/25/13 07:11 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Alcohol does some sterilization, but as has been mentioned on here recently it's not good to rely on it for that, however I feel it should be mentioned that it is still a good tool when used properly. Alcohol is a *great* organic solvent, and what this means is that it's good for removing spores, so long as you use it properly. For instance I might use it to wipe down my work surface, get a new, barely saturated paper towel w/alcohol, and then wipe it down again. This depends how dirty your surface is to begin with though. I still typically spray lysol, but I also simply don't like using it because of its carcinogenic properties.
One thing I would recommend alcohol for however, unless anyone sees a flaw in my logic, is cleaning your SAB. It beats the hell out of soap and water, at least if you plan to work in it soon, because of the speed at which it evaporates. Soap and water is going to leave some water within the box and this will create a humid environment which is more effected by airflow, sticks to things (along with the particles it carries), etc. You can always simply wipe your box down with a towel afterwards to dry it, but then you're introducing more spores (likely negligible though) to minimize that problem. I tend to just feel my work surface before I use it, if I feel dust on it I use soap, if I don't feel anything I use alcohol instead.
|
Trippy_Penguin



Registered: 03/18/12
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: krypto2000]
#18756618 - 08/25/13 07:18 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Alcohol is indeed a great tool for sanitizing your work area. I don't dry my SAB after sanitizing and use it with the walls still al little wet.
|
PhosCap
Gratuitous Heavenly Grace


Registered: 06/09/10
Posts: 975
Loc: Tartary
Last seen: 8 months, 14 days
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: krypto2000]
#18756652 - 08/25/13 07:24 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Yea alcohol sanitizes but does zero sterilization. As Hacker mentioned, in posts throughout the last couple months, that alcohol itself could have nasties in it. I think all that alcohol does is temporarily immobilizes nasties, and with the quick evaps helps for moving fast when cleaning surfaces.
I usually clean out everything, totes, jars etc with Dr Bronners soap. For some reason I think the oils in it help destroy and remove sticky contam shit
|
PussyFart
Retired Cultivation Extrodinaire



Registered: 04/08/12
Posts: 22,502
Loc: Orbiting Earth
Last seen: 17 days, 16 hours
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: krypto2000]
#18756698 - 08/25/13 07:33 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
krypto2000 said: Alcohol does some sterilization,
No it doesnt't.
Alcohol itself is not sterile.
It does sanitize tho.
Chemicals sanitize, heat sterilizes.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
|
krypto2000
Unknown


Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 11,579
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: PussyFart]
#18756754 - 08/25/13 07:44 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
It sterilizes some spores by drying them out, but not all the spores, even of any specific species (afaik), that's what I meant by it does some sterilization, but likewise that's why it shouldn't be used as a sterilizer.
|
Psilicon
Really Nice Guy


Registered: 08/26/12
Posts: 7,057
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: PussyFart]
#18756786 - 08/25/13 07:53 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Notahacker420 said:
Quote:
krypto2000 said: Alcohol does some sterilization,
No it doesnt't.
Alcohol itself is not sterile.
It does sanitize tho.
Chemicals sanitize, heat sterilizes.
That's not exactly true--some chemicals can sterilize, like bleach or ozone. But I agree alochols can't.
|
PussyFart
Retired Cultivation Extrodinaire



Registered: 04/08/12
Posts: 22,502
Loc: Orbiting Earth
Last seen: 17 days, 16 hours
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: Psilicon]
#18756813 - 08/25/13 08:00 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Bleach does not sterilize either.
And I would not consider ozone a valid chemical that can be used everyday.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
Edited by PussyFart (08/25/13 08:00 PM)
|
krypto2000
Unknown


Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 11,579
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: PussyFart]
#18756981 - 08/25/13 08:46 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Bleach does sterilize, I just posted this yesterday, you just have to use it properly. It doesn't sterilize immediately on contact, it must be at a 10% concentration and remain on the pathogen for 10 minutes or more. Most people assume simply wiping something with bleach will sterilize the surface and this practice is likely what has caused the belief that it doesn't.
|
Psilicon
Really Nice Guy


Registered: 08/26/12
Posts: 7,057
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: PussyFart]
#18757205 - 08/25/13 09:26 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Notahacker420 said: And I would not consider ozone a valid chemical that can be used everyday.
Ozone generators are widely available, and you can make it at home with a couple of nine-volt batteries and a small piece of platinum.
|
PussyFart
Retired Cultivation Extrodinaire



Registered: 04/08/12
Posts: 22,502
Loc: Orbiting Earth
Last seen: 17 days, 16 hours
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: krypto2000]
#18757256 - 08/25/13 09:36 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
krypto2000 said: Bleach does sterilize, I just posted this yesterday, you just have to use it properly. It doesn't sterilize immediately on contact, it must be at a 10% concentration and remain on the pathogen for 10 minutes or more. Most people assume simply wiping something with bleach will sterilize the surface and this practice is likely what has caused the belief that it doesn't.
My point exactly.
Keeping everything soaked in bleach for 10 minutes is not practical.
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
|
krypto2000
Unknown


Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 11,579
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
|
Re: Alcohol is not a good sterilizer, but still a good mycologists tool. [Re: PussyFart]
#18757349 - 08/25/13 09:52 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
I use it for tables and larger surfaces, but I do agree it has its downfalls. I've found that unless you thoroughly wipe down the surface afterwards, which can introduce contaminants in itself it evaporates and leaves a salt residue. Initially this isn't bad, but over a period of weeks as the salt evaporates you're then left with a wet table and we all know what that brings. Basically bleach is like a drug, if you use it your surfaces get addicted to it and you have to keep using it in order to keep them clean. Bleach combined with an alcohol wipe afterwards, ironically, is a pretty good solution however.
|
|